Flexitol is also very good for keratosis pilaris (red bumps on arms)

[otchayaniye]

The hoof thread reminded me.

It basically contains a high percentage of urea which can dekeratinize the plugs.

A derm doctor friend told me this.

It's much cheaper and easier to get than lacHydrin, dermadoctor KP et al.

Have been very annoyed with my spotty upper arms over the last few days, can't believe the timing of seeing this thread.
Have been using Eucerin when it gets bad, which means all over legs, up over bum and hips and upper arms. Will definitely be trying Flexitol.
Also used to pick mine, have managed to stop that disgusting habit!
Always thought it was connected to washing powders as one summer it was hot enough to wear shorts every day. I should point out that I was in my very early twenties at this point, when short denim cut offs looked attractive. Anyway, my legs completely cleared up, I assumed it was because there was no clothing touching them. But maybe it was the sunshine...

Tendskin def works- very expensive though and pongs a bit- works by using the same ingredient found in aspirin I think...had awful ingrowing hairs on bikini line until I discovered it.
Can't use it when pregnant apparently, big bummer.
Is Flexitol ok during pregnancy- does anyone know?
Thanks for this link- will go and buy some tomorrow and hope it does job before summer over ;)

I've bought some today. It smells like hospital did years ago. Its expensive. We'll see...

Yet another product I've bought because of MN! I have horrible cracked heels and there's only so much a PedEgg will do.

I don't know if I've got keratosis on my arms, but during pregnancy (and now during breastfeeding) I do have a profusion of little white spots, rimmed in red, which produce teeny white sausages if squeezed (am trying HARD not to, but I'm a Poker and a Squeezer). They are bloody annoying. Is that keratosis? Shall I try the magic cream on them anyway?

I probably draw the line at rubbing the stuff into my lips though. Not only does it contain urea (i.e. pee, I presume. WHOSE pee??) but also Extract of Centipede. Check out the ingredients.

This thread is fab! I already use flexitol on my cuticles, hands feet and heels, so i will be putting it on my arms now too!

brilliant! I've got the spots and didn't even know it had a name - I had put on weight and have not let my bingo wings see sunlight since and then got pregnant and it just got worse. I have always had perfect skin (my only asset!) and was deeply dischuffed. Thankyou MN!!

Which flexitol is it, can anyone tell me?

Those little bumps have been the bane of my life since childhood.

reshape - yes, that sounds like KP. Oh, and don't worry about the source of the urea, it isn't a by-product of urine at all, just a salt.

Whatever product you use, it's one with a high level (20-25 percent) of urea in it. There are different makes and own brands, just Flexitol Heel Balm is the best known.

Cakeandroses you asked about Paula's Choice. I haven't used a load of her products but she seems sound, I'm more a sunscreen plus boggo moisturiser (currently Oilatum Natural Repair) but I really like (and which I could use, but can't right now as I'm pregnant) her Resist Range and I use the Weekly Resurfacer.

Not sure what you are looking for in a cream but if it's anti-aging you could try something from hers with a retinoid. It shouldn't irritate (prescription level can in many people, however) but maybe try for a sample?

I'm pregnant and flexitol is fine. It's Vit A products and salicylic (Tendskin is this) in high concentrations that are best to avoid (though no real evidence they cause harm either.

Which, erm, makes me wonder if I've checked the flexitol ingredients..... If it's low down the list, will be fine.

Do check.

OP, in the words of David Cassidy "I think I love you", I have had this for years and some rather unhelpful friend kept suggesting exfoliating (like what the hell does she think I do ffs!), however I am now off to find Flexitol for my arms and for dd as I have sadly passed this trait onto her - dh has it too but on his love handles!

Got to be worth a shot hasn't it. I love you mn.

Ooh, just looked on boots website and it is buy one foot product get second half price so might be worth a stock up if instore!

Could someone advise which to buy/try? There seem to be a few!

This didn't work for me at all (tried it twice a day for a month). Although the skin between the bumps seemed to be greasier smoother.

Have just bought this today and slapped it on my thighs.
I bought the moisturising foot cream. 85g for £5.81 in Boots.

Just to add (I think I said this before) that it might not work miracles for everyone.

KP cannot be cured. It's a subcutaneous thing going on where the skin over keratinizes and forms plugs which build (the white stuff) up and don't get sloughed off. It waxes and wanes in severity (obvious here that some feel that pregnancy and breastfeeding brings it on) and some things will help minimize its appearance. With mild cases it will appear to disappear even. For me its sun, a bit of regular manual exfoliation (but that alone won't work) and intensive moisturisation (ie urea based products that help eat away the top layer of skin) and most importantly NOT PICKING (gross, but we know who we are ).

Others find intense moisturisation and AHAs or urea products make the skin too moist and bring out the redness. Maybe those people could up the manual exfoliation, or try aspirin toner (I also like L'Oreal Exfotonic left on for a bit and rinsed off) or something containing bromelain or papain (enzymes in pineapples and papayas)

Some find changing washing powders, not wearing long sleeves (though pickers beware!) coconut oil etc help.

keratosispilaris.org is a wealth of things to try -- almost bewildering array of products and tips.

But essentially it all comes down to moisture and exfoliation and some light sun exposure. And age

Thanks will try other things suggested. Am not a picker yuck! Sun deffo always helps but its not always sunny enough to go sleeveless for long enough to get rid iykwim!

Age - does it get better or worse as you get older? Mine has always been same although legs improving a bit.

It is supposed to get better with age, yes.

My KP cleared up totally when pregnant - but came back with vengeance when I stopped bf at 9 mos.

Now have it all over arms from wrist to shoulder. I had it only a little bit when I was on the pill - just a tiny bot at the backs of my upper arms. My GP says it's hormonal.

Thanks to this thread, I got generic (CCSfootcare.co.uk) 25% urea heel cream yesterday in boots and fingers crossed. I piled it on last night and wore a loose sleeveless nighty. This morning I noticed the bumps have all risen out and seem to be softer?

A consultant doctor friend of mine says that you can dissolve a lot of aspirin in water and use it as Tend Skin. The salicylic acid is the active ingredient. He also recommends plopping a few disposable dispirin (aspirin) into a little bit of water and then tip it into shampoo, and shake it up, to transform it into a dandruff shampoo - especially recommended if you have hayfever.
MUCH cheaper than buying a bottle of dandruff shampoo, and you get to keep all the benefits you chose your original shampoo for.
I suppose you could do the same for shower gel if you had dry/ scaly patches - or just wanted an exfoliating shower gel..

Thanks for this thread!!

I transformed the tops of my arms in about 4 days with Sanctuary Body scrub and Sanctuary body cream - marvelous stuff!

Having seen this recommendation on the MN swears by email I bought some Flexitol. My husband, 3yr old and 5 yr old all have the lumpy bumpy upper arms. After using this less than a week the children's lumps have all but disappeared and their arms are almost smooth. Thank you!

Just started using today - again thanks to 'MN swears by'
How much should I put on - seems quite thick but is drying to a whitish powdery finish - do I need to exfoliate it off too?

Another love message - I saw this thread and went and bought Flexitol - 3 days in and i can notice a massive difference in my arms

I can't believe how many people suffer from it - nice to know i'm not alone....

:D

Im guessing you all visited the liverpool store to get your half price heel balm cos i went to 2 today and they had none left

I can only find flexitol in a blister gel or something, is that the one i need, have hideous feet and backs of arms to match so desperatly need something sorting before a part on saturday.....

Just a heads up for all you flexitol fiends - I got mine today in superdrug and it was buy one get one free - so 2 tubes for £9.18!!
Can I ask how much of it you are all using? I've got the bumps on my legs mainly, thighs extending down to calves.

This stuff is really working!! smooth legs for the first time in years!!